Bialik Hebrew Day School in Vaughan eyes adding Grade 8 next year

'We were continuing to attract families'

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 10, 2019
Dina Al-Shibeeb

Bialik Hebrew Day School celebrated the opening of its new wing at its Himel Branch in Vaughan on Sept. 5.

The school has two branches with a total of 1,225 students.

Its southern branch in North York has 840 students from junior kindergarten to Grade 8, while its second Himel Branch has added Grade 7 this year and has 385 pupils.

The Himel Branch opened in 2013 with one class each in JK, SK and Grade 1. The expansion has students in 19 classes in a new school size of 45,000 square feet.

“We have a gorgeous new gymnasium, brand-spanking new, lovely bright spacious classrooms, and a big sort of double classroom, which is a facility for STEM, art and science learning,” said the head of the school, Benjy Cohen.

While there is an Orthodox school in Vaughan, the Himel Branch prides itself on being “essentially the only school serving the Jewish community in the area” that doesn’t have a religious take on Jewish education.

“So we teach customs and even quite a number of rituals. But we don't tell families or children what they're supposed to be doing,” he said.

“We equip them with the knowledge and the background, and they apply it in whatever way they feel is appropriate.”

The school adheres to Ministry of Education curriculum for its general studies program.

“I think we have a very fine reputation as having an outstanding general studies education, as well as our strong Jewish education and a warm environment where families feel comfortable and enjoy,” Cohen said.

“So we were continuing to attract families,” he added. “And next year, we'll have our first Grade 8. So we've been adding a grade every year.”

Cohen said there is now a “large population of Israeli families and Russian families that have moved to Canada, as well as many native, long-time Canadians that are looking for a Bialik kind of education, which is heavy on Jewish identity and Israel and Hebrew customs, and not within an orthodox approach.”

Hayim Nahman Bialik, who died in 1934, is considered the “national poet of Israel” who wrote poetry for children. He was also one of the pioneers of modern Hebrew poetry.